Backplate

Cleveland Museum of Art

The "Backplate" by an unknown artist is a piece of armor. The metallic object is shaped like a half-oval or a curved trapezoid, wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. The armor piece has a wide, flat top edge and a rounded, wide bottom edge. The surface of the armor displays vertical brushed metal lines, indicating its construction from multiple metal plates. Small rivets are visible along the bottom edge and middle of the piece. The background of the image transitions from black at the top to gray at the bottom. The armor appears to have a weathered look with signs of wear and tear. The bottom edge features a decorative rope-like design. There are decorative metal pieces at the top-left and top-right corners.